17 year old Ying Ling is training to become a mortician in one of China’s largest funeral homes. Far from home and terrified of ghosts, she learns to perform spa and beauty treatments for the dead, speaking to them softly as she is watched closely by family members. Learning to navigate the long, lifeless corridors of the crematorium, she forms a close and unexpected friendship with her colleague Jin Hau. Their playful camaraderie makes work bearable, but when Jin Hau suddenly leaves the funeral home, Ying Ling is left to face the harsh realities of the job alone.
“Brilliant doc, very unique in its subject matter, which feels like a real point of difference amongst this crop of documentaries. Very poignant and intimate. The director really drew the personality of this reserved young girl.”
BIFA Voter